Survey of Channel and Radio Propagation Models for Wireless MIMO Systems

TLDR

Physical models describe double‑directional propagation between transmitter and receiver without accounting for antenna configuration, whereas analytical models simultaneously capture wave propagation and antenna configuration by modeling the impulse response between antenna arrays. The paper reviews state‑of‑the‑art radio propagation and channel models for wireless MIMO systems and highlights key channel features that current models inadequately capture. The authors distinguish physical and analytical models, discuss popular examples, and review MIMO models used in standardization to enable reproducible and comparable system evaluations.

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art radio propagation and channel models for wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. We distinguish between physical models and analytical models and discuss popular examples from both model types. Physical models focus on the double-directional propagation mechanisms between the location of transmitter and receiver without taking the antenna configuration into account. Analytical models capture physical wave propagation and antenna configuration simultaneously by describing the impulse response (equivalently, the transfer function) between the antenna arrays at both link ends. We also review some MIMO models that are included in current standardization activities for the purpose of reproducible and comparable MIMO system evaluations. Finally, we describe a couple of key features of channels and radio propagation which are not sufficiently included in current MIMO models.